Heating furnace



April 13, 1937.

P. s. MENOUGH 76,739

HEATING FURNACE Filed Nov. 15, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR April 13, 1937. P. s. MENOUGH HEATING FURNACE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1933 INVENTOR W1 2 April 1937. P. s. MENOUGH 2,076,739

HEATING FURNACE Filed Nov. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 105 I ,1 1Z5 i H 174 A I I April 1937. P. s. MENOU-GH 2,076,739 HEATING FURNACE Filed Nov. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!! I!Q Patented Apr. 13, 1937 v v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEATING FURNACE Paul S. Menough, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to Michiana Products Corporation, Michigan City,

Ind.

Application November 15, 1933, Serial No. 698,109

14 Claims. (01. 198-219) My invention relates generally to heating fur- By my invention, I further provide novel mechnaces, and more particularly to heating furnaces anism for removing the material from the furused for metallurgical purposes and through nace at the discharge end thereof, the operation which the material to be treated is conveyed at of which is synchronized with the operation of such a rate of travel, with reference to the length the conveying mechanism.

of the furnace chamber and the heat supplied, The advantages of my invention will be apas to enable the articles to be properly heated by parent to those skilled in the art as the nature the time-they shall have reached the delivery or of the invention is better understood. It condischarge end of the furnace. The particular sists in the novel construction, combination and type of heating furnace of this character to which arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully demy invention relates is generally known as a scribed, illustrated and claimed. walking beam type furnace; that is, a furnace In the drawings I have shown a preferred emwherein reciprocating members which cooperate bodiment of my invention and several modifiwith either stationary supports or other reciprocations thereof. 'It will be understood, however, eating members are used for transporting mathat I do not intend to be limitedto the struc-- terial through the furnace. tures shown in the drawings, as my invention may In furnaces of this character considerable difbe otherwise embodied. In the drawings my inficulty has been encountered in providing satvention is shown as applied to a pack heating isfactory means for conveying the material furnace, It will be understood by those skilled through the furnace, which will not be deleterin the art to which this invention appertains that iously effected by the heat of the furnace. The my invention is equallyapplicable to other types temperatures in furnaces of this character are of heating furnaces, for instance, the so-called generally rather high, ranging up to approxnormalizing furnaces. imately 1950 F. in certain types thereof. Con- In the drawings: sequently, it is necessary to provide material Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view transporting means which is of such character as through the discharge end of a furnace embodyto not buckle, warp or twist from the action of ing my invention; 1 the heat to which it is subjected. The use of al- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view,taken loy beams for the material supporting and conalong a horizontal plane of a furnace embodying veying mechanism has been proposed, but the my invention;

use of alloys in furnace structures known in the Figure 3 is 'a section taken along the line III art at the present time involves an addition of a 111 of Figure 2; very appreciable amount to the cost thereof.' Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing By my invention, I provide an improved furthe walking beams of the structure shown in Fignace construction of the character above reure 2, the plate used for covering one of the ferred to, embodying novel material supporting wheel bearings being removed; and conveying mechanism. The material sup Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showporting and. conveying mechanism which I proing the walking beams and the manner in which vide is of such character as to prevent buckling, they are supported in the furnace;

. twisting, or warping of the parts thereof, which Figure 6 is a sectional view of one of the lonare subjected to the high temperatures of furgitudinally movable beams; naces of the character referred to. It is also of Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a portion such character as to permit the use of alloys in of the apparatus for horizontally reciprocating the structure without unreasonably increasing the longitudinally movable beams;

the initial cost thereof over the cost of furnaces Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view showing of this character wherein the material supporta modified form of longitudinally movable beam ing and conveying mechanism is made of ordinary and the manner in which it is supported in the steel. I furnace;

In accordance with my invention, I further F gu e 9 is a Sectional View through m dified provide novel means carried by the material supform of longitudinally movable beam and showporting beams on which the material rests during particularly a modified form of supporting ing its passage through the furnace. and which wheel and the manner in which it is mounted is so arranged as to afiord adequate support for in the furnace; the material at all times and prevent bending Figure 10 is an elevational view of the wheel thereof. I shown in Figure 9;

45 from the furnace after having Figure 11 is a plane view of a material engaging finger and showing the manner in which the material engaging fingers are mounted on the beams; I

Figure 12 is alfragmentary elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 11 andshowing the manner in which the material engaging fingers aresupportedon the beams;

Figure 13 is a section taken along the line XIII-XIII of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modified form of my invention;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the vertically movable beams shown in 15 Figure 14 and showing the manner in which it is mounted on the vertically movable posts;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a still further modified form of my invention;

' Figure 17 is a vertical sectional view through one of the longitudinally movable beams of'the embodiment shown in Figure 14, and showing in detail the method of mounting the same;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 16 and showing the manner in which the beams are supported in the furnace;

Figure 19 shows the manner in which the beams in the embodiment shown in Flgure 16 are supported and maintained in alinement at the intermediate'supporting piers; and

Figure 20 is a plan view of the cap on which the horizontally movable beams are mounted on the intermediate supporting piers.

3 i The embodiment of 'my invention shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, and 11 to 13, inclusive, will be initially described.

'The furnace structure proper comprises side walls 2, end walls 3, a bottom wall 4 and a top 40 wall (not shown). An opening 5 is provided at one end of the furnace to permit material to enter the furnace. A discharge opening 6 having a door I thereon is provided at the other end of the furnace to permit material to be discharged passed therethrough. The furnace structure may be of any desired width or length, depending upon the use to which it is to be put and the size of the materials to be heated. 50 The material isplaced in the furnace and is carried therethrough by means of a plurality of,

walking beams. The walking beam structure for conveying the material through the furnace comprises one series of longitudinally extending 55 beams 8 which are supported for vertical reciprocatory motion, and a second series of walking beams 9 which are supported for horizontal longitudinal movement. The operation of these series of walking beams is so coordinated that the g vertically movable beams 8 are in their lowermost position during the period that the longitudinally movable beams are moving forward;

During this period the material is supported by the longitudinally movable beams and is carried 65 forward thereby, the vertically movable beams in their lowermost position being below and out of contact'with the material. After the forward stroke of the longitudinally movable beams has taken place, the vertically movable beams are 7 raised by appropriate mechanism, to be hereinafter briefiy described, and thematerial lifted from the longitudinally movable beams 9 and supported thereby. During the period that the materialpassing through the furnace is support- 75 edby the vertically movable beams, the horizontally movable beams are moved rearwardly so as to be ready to receive and again carry forward the material when the vertically movable beams are again lowered. In this manner the material is carried through the furnace in a step by step 6 manner, the horizontally movable beams carrying the material forward-through the furnace and the vertically movable beams supporting the material during the period that the horizontally movable beams are being returned to a position 10 to again advance the material through the furnace.

My invention is not limited to furnaces having walking'beam structures of the character above described, as it may be embodied in structu; l6 utilizing an entirely different type of beam movement. It may be embodied in structures wherein a single series of movable beams are employed, which are movable in .both a vertically extending direction and in a longitudinally extending di- 20 rection, the material being supported on stationary beams or supports during the return stroke of the series of movable beams.

Extension arms it are provided and suitably connected to the longitudinally movable walking 25 beams 9. The beams 9 or the extensions i6 extend through the charging opening of the furnace, and the extensions it are each provided with a rack l'l which cooperates with a gear l8 carried by a shaft l9 which is suitably driven 30 by a motor 20 through appropriate gear reducing mounted on a shaft 26 driven by suitable driving mechanism. The shaft 26 isrotated first in one direction for raising the beams, and then in the reverse direction forlowering the'beams totheir lowermost position. a

The walking beams 8 and 9 are each provided with horizontally extending material engaging fingers 21. These material engaging fingersare located at spaced intervals along the length of each beam and the fingers on the beams 9 are spaced longitudinally of the furnace relative to the fingers 21 on the beams 8, so that they will bearranged in alternating relationship. The fingers 21 are of sufiicient length to extend between the two adjacent fingers on each adjacentbeam so as to provide an overlapping relationship therebetween. This provides a highly desirable, supporting structure for the material. By reason of a structure of this character, the material. passing through the furnace .will be 'well supported so that there will be little or no tendency whatever for the edges or comers of the material to bend downwardly during the heating operation, and particularly if it is necessary to maintain the material in the heating furnace for an appreciable period of time. Where it is necessary to cease the movement of the material through the furnace for an appreciable period of time, the vertically movable beams can be raised so that the material engaging fingers 21 thereon will be in the same plane as the material engaging fingers on the longitudinally movable beams. As can be readily seen, under such circumstances,

the material can be permitted to remain in the furnace for appreciable periods of time without any possibility of bending or warping of the edges or corners of the material.

5 The fingers 21 may be mounted on the beams 8 and 9 in any suitable manner. As shown in the drawings, each finger 21 has a horizontally extending portion 28 on each side thereof which is adapted to cooperate with retaining lugs 29 10 carried by the beam. These lugs are arranged on each side of each finger and hold them solid and prevent movement thereof longitudinally of r the furnace.

Upstanding portions 35 are also carried by the 15 beams 8 and 9 between the fingers 21 for aiding. in supporting. the material. The top portion of each of these upstanding portions is substantially flush with the plane of the supporting surface of the fingers. 2 The vertically movable beams 8 are in the form of ordinary I-beams and are suitably mounted on plates 36 carried bythe posts 22. The posts 22 for supporting the beams may be located at desired intervals throughout the length of the 25 furnace. I prefer to locate them suiliciently close together to prevent the beams from being subjected to stresses which might cause failure thereof underthe heating conditions to which they will be subjected.

The horizontally movablebeams 9 are substantially U-shaped in cross section and have horizontally extending projections 4| on the open end thereof. Each of the beams 8 and 9 may be rolled or cast as a single beam extending throughout the length of the furnace, or they may be rolled or cast in sections and riveted together so that each beam will constitute a continuous beam extending throughoutsubstantially' the length of the furnace.

40 The beams 9 maybe cast or. as will be pointed out hereinafter,- formed from sheet metal. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the beams 9 are cast sections. Entirely satisfactory structures can, however, be made from sheet 45 metal. Where thin sheet metal is used it is desirable to provide further means to insure against warping or buckling of the beams.

The beams 9 are mounted in the furnace with the open ends thereof downwardly. Each beam 50 is supported at spaced intervals throughout the length of the furnace on wheels 42 which extend upwardly into the beam. Each wheel 42 is mounted on an axle 49 which is mounted on bearing plates 44, carried on the top of a pier 45.

55 The bearing plates 44 have upstanding portions 49 adjacent each end thereof adapted to cooperate with the axle 43 mounted thereon to prevent the wheel from being forced off the pier by the movement of the beam in a longitudinally 60 extending direction. The wheels 42 and the beam 9 mounted thereon are shown in the forward position in Figure 1. When the beam 9 is movedtoward the charging end of the furnace by means of .the apparatus described here- Biinbefore, the axles 43 of'the wheels "will roll on the bearing plates toward the charging end of the furnace, ,;,and the-beams 9 will roll along the periphery'bf each of the wheels 42. This provides an anti-friction bearing for the longi- 70 tudinally movable beams which is highly-desirable. This arrangement-also provides a continuous beam extending throughout the length of the furuace.-and consequently results in a I material reduction in the stresses to which the beams themselves are subjected by reason of the weight of the material being transported through the furnace.

As stated above, the U-shaped beams and cooperate with the sides thereof to prevent warping or buckling thereof. The movement of the wheels in the U-shaped beams prevents them from warping or buckling, and keeps them in proper alinement even though subjected to intense heat.

Cover plates 41 may be provided to prevent scale or dirt from falling from the material being transported through the furnace onto the bearing plates carried by the piers 45. It is highly desirable to prevent scale and dirt from collecting in these bearing plates, as friction between the axles 43 and their respective bearing plates would be enhanced thereby.

Where the furnace is of such length as to require the joining together of several beams in order to form a continuous beam extending substantially throughout the length of the furnace, suitable couplings or splicing members may be provided. In Figure 6 there is shown a coupling member which may be securely fastened byrivets 52, or other suitable means, to adjacent sections of the longitudinally movable beams 9. In Figure 5 there is shown a coupling 59 which may be riveted or otherwise securely fastened to adjacent sections of the "vertically movable beams 8.

As a further precaution against twisting or warping of the beams, I provide by my invention positioned longitudinally of the furnace between the supports for the walking beams 8 and 9 heretofore described. Each intermediate pier 10 is provided with grooves II into which the beams 8 descend when lowered to their lowermost position. These grooves ll have their upper side walls sloped as at 12, and as the beams 8 descend therein any tendency toward warping or bending is'prevented. The beams 8 when in their lowermost position are arranged to rest on the bottom portions 13 of the grooves 1|. This affordr an additional support for the beams when in lowered position.

Each intermediate pier H1 is also provided with grooves 14, each of which carries a bearing plate 15 on which a longitudinally reciprocable beam 9 rests. Each bearing plate 15 is provided with upstanding end portions 16 and an inner upstanding portion 11, these upstanding portions being adapted to cooperate with the lower ends of the beam 9 and prevent warping or bending thereof. The beams 9 intermediate piers l8 and considerable of the weight of the beams, as well as of the material carried thereby, is carried by these intermediate 'piers. The stresses to which the beams 9 are subjected while transporting material through the furnace are thereby materially reduced. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the use of such piers intermediate the main supports and reciprocating parts for the. beams is highly advantageous in a furnace of this character. where the parts are subjected to high temperatures. The intermediate piers help support the weight of the beams and, in addition, the weight of the material carried thereby, thereby reducing the stresses to which the continuous beams are'subjected.

In the .pack heating furnace shown in the drawings, discharging mechanism is provided adjacen't the discharge end of the furnace for raising the mate i al from the longitudinally ex 42 with-' an intermediate pier or intermediate piersat all times rest on the,

the wheels 42 extend into tending beams and discharging it from the furnace. As will be noted from Figure 2, the longi- 1 tudinally movable beams 9 extend beyond the 4 ends of the vertically movable beams 6 adjacent thedischarge end of the furnace. On each side of .the longitudinally movable beams 9 there is provided a pivotally mounted arm 64. These arms 64 are mounted on pivots located on the ,out-

side of the end wall at the discharge end ofthe 10 furnace, and the free ends thereof .extend infurnace and are adapted to rest on one of the piers 46.

Driving mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the material discharging arms at proper times. As shown in the drawings, the driving 0 mechanism comprises posts 51 carrying arm-engaging wheels or rollers at the upper ends thereof for engagement with the arms 54. The posts are provided with racks 56 adjacent the lower ends thereof which are adapted to cooperate with gears 56' carried by a shaft 26' adapted to be driven by the same driving element as the shafts 26 so as to synchronize the movement of the discharging arms with the movement of the vertically movable beam 8. When the beams 8 are 30 in their lowermost position, the arms 54-will be in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1. When raised to the level of the longitudinally movable beams thedischarging arms will also-be raised to the level-of the longitudinally movable beams, and when the vertically movable beams 9 are in uppermost position the arms 64 will be raised to the position shown in chain lines in Figure 1. Of course, the stroke of the posts 51 will be considerably larger than the stroke of 0 posts 22 but the parts can readily be arranged to accomplish this.

Each arm 54 is provided with a plurality of rollers 60. Each roller 60 is mounted on a short spindle 6i which is adapted to cooperate at either grooves 62, as shown in solid lines in Figure 1.

As the arms 54 are raised, a sheet or other mate rial will be picked up by the rollers from the beams 9, and as the arms 54 continue in an upward direction beyond the horizontal, the rollers 60 with the material thereon will move rapidly forwardly'toward the discharge end of the furnace and the material carried by the rollers will be given an appreciable impetus toward the discharge opening. The material will then continue toward the discharge end of the furnace and will rollv on the rollers which have assumed a position such as indic'atedin dotted lines in Figure 1.

The advantages of such a structure as that described above will be apparent-to those skilled in the art and 'need not be specifically pointed out herein. The walking beam structure is of such character as to permit suitably rapid passage of the material through the furnace and to provide adequatesupportfor the material at an.

times while in the furnace. It is also of such character as to prevent buckling or warping of the parts which are subjected to excessive heat,

and is of such character that the quantity of alend thereof with a bearing groove or recess 62 loy steel required will be materially reduced. It

will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the stresses and strains on the beams are' minimized by the construction which I provide.

i In Figure 8 of the drawings, I have shown a modification of one feature ofmy invention. In this embodiment the longitudinally movable beam may be made from relatively thin sheet material and formed into the Ushaped beam shown. I have found that a beam such as that shown in Figure 8 will be entirely satisfactory when formed of thin sheet material rather than cast. I prefer to use sheet metal of approximately inch in thickness for the portions of the beams located in the hotter zones of the furnace, and sheet metal.

approximately inch in thickness for. the portions of the beams located in the cooler zones of the furnace.

The beam 89 1s shown as provided with a material supportlngand engaging finger 6|, such as the material supporting and engaging fingers 21 of the embodiment heretofore described. The beam 80 is shown ascooperating with a wheel 62 mounted on an axle 93 which is mounted on castings 94 forming bearing plates for the axle 99. The wheel 82 extends upwardly into' the U-shaped beam 80 and will prevent collapse or warping of the beam. Each casting 94 is provided with a horizontally extending portion 96 extending over the bearing plates-of the casting, and one end of the axle 83 so as to provide a shield-therefor. Each casting 84 is also provided with an upwardly projecting portion 86, extending upwardly from thehorizontally extending portion 86, which has a curved platelil mounted at its upper end adapted to extend over the openings. 68 between the U-shaped beam and the casting for the purpose'of preventing scale and dirt from obtaining access to the bearing plate of the casting. These upstanding portions 66 are located adjacent the ends of the U-shaped beam 80 and are adapted to cooperate therewith and prevent the warping or twisting of the beams.

Suitable braces or reenforcing members 69 are also provided for reenforcing the beam 69 at spaced intervals throughout the length of the furnace. I prefer to form these braces integral with the material engaging fingers 6|.

In Figure 9 I have shown a' further modification of one feature ofmy invention, wherein upstanding portions are provided on each, portion of the axle 9| of the wheel 92 adapted to support the longitudinally movable-beam 93. These upstanding portions 90 are adapted to cooperate .withthe ends 94 of the beam 92 and prevent warping or twisting ofthe beam.. In this embodiment each portion of the axle 9i of the wheel is mounted on a bearing plate 96 carried by a suitable pier or pedestal in the furnace.

The wheel 92 shown in this figure and also in Figure 10 is especially designed for the purpose of taking. care of expansion and contraction due to with a plurality of spokes 96 which are formed integrally with the periphery of the wheel at the outer ends thereof, and are turned inwardly in opposite directions adjacent their inner ends:

- that is, the inner ends of adjacent spokes are turned in opposite directions. At their inner ends of the axle 9|, which comprises two hollow castthe heat of the furnace. The wheel is provided movable beams I and the vertically movable beams IOI are both formed of sheet metal. Each beam I00 is U-shaped and is adapted to receive and be supported by a wheel I02 mounted on 10 an axle I03, each end of which is adapted to cooperate with a casting I04 having a bearing plate I on which the axle rolls. A casting I04 is mounted on each side of each wheel I02 on ,a pier I06. Openings I01 are, of course, provided 15 in the pier to receive the wheels I02. Each casting I04 is provided with an upwardly extending portion I00 adapted to cooperate with the ad-. jacent side of the adjacent beam I00 to prevent warping thereof. Scraping f l ates I09 are pro- 20 vided on these upstanding "ortions to prevent scale from collecting on the horizontally disposed portions IIO of each beam I00. Material engaging and supporting fingers III are mounted on each beam I00 at spaced intervals through- 25 out the length of the furnace for supporting the material being carried therethrough. Each finger III has downwardly extending. braces II2 extending downwardly over the beam I00 on each side thereof to make the beam more rigid and 30 prevent buckling or -warping thereof.

Each vertically movable beam IOI is formed in substantially U-shape from sheet metal. Each beam I0'I is formed somewhat differently than each longitudinally movable beam in that 35 they have no horizontally extending projections on the ends thereof. Each beam IOI is provided with a U-shaped bracket II3 extending longitudinally thereof and secured thereto. These brackets I I3 are provided for the purpose of pre- I 45 flanges H5 adapted to extend upwardly along the outer edges of the beam IOI for maintaining the beams on the posts and for aiding in preventing buckling thereof. l

Each beam IOI is provided with a plurality 50 of material engaging fingers Il6 spaced throughout the length of the furnace. These fingers II6, similarly to the fingers III, have downwardly extending braces II8 extending downwardly along the outer surfaces of the beams for the 55 purpose of increasing the rigidity thereof and for preventing buckling and warping.

In Figures 16, 18, 19 and 20, I have shown a still further modification of my invention. In this embodiment there is provided a series of 00 longitudinally movable beams I20 and a series of vertically movable beams I2I. The longitudinally movable beams I20 are substantially similar to the longitudinally movable beams I00 shown in Figure 14, except that they are not provided 05 with material engaging fingers such as those mounted on longitudinally movable beams I00. In this embodiment of the invention, the axles I22 of the wheels I23 cooperate with and rest 'in castings I24 mounted on the pier I25. These -70 castings I24 are provided with upwardly extending projections I26 adapted to cooperate with the beams I2I adjacent thereto for preventing buckling or warping thereof; The castings I24 are also provided with upstanding portions I21 75 adapted to cooperate with the horizontally disposed edges of the beams I20 to prevent outward displacement thereof due to the heat of the furnace.

In this embodiment of the invention capsor castings I30 may beprovided on the intermediate 5 piers for aiding in maintaining the longitudinally movable beams in proper alinement and for preventing buckling or warping thereof. These caps or castings I30 are provided with upstanding portions I3I, one side of which is adapted to cooperate with the horizontally extending portions of the adjacent beam I20 and the other side'of which is adapted to cooperate with the adjacent beam I2I to maintain it in proper alinement and prevent warping or buckling thereof. Lugs I32 are also provided on each cap or casting I30 to prevent collapsing of the beams I20.

' As will be readily apparent from the above description, I provide a walking beam structure in which the beams may be made of thin sheet metal and wherein such beams may be maintained rigid and warping or buckling thereof entirely prevented. The structure which I provide is rigid and will not be destroyed or the operation thereof impaired by the high temperatures to which furnaces of this character are subjected in operation.

Another feature of my invention not heretofore discussed resides in the provision of a structure wherein the material passing through the furnace may. be supported by all of the material engaging and supporting mechanism during the period or periods that the material is held in the furnace by reason of delays or during the period 35 or periods that the material moving mechanism remains stationary. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, the vertically movable beams during such periods are'raised so that the material engaging and supporting fingers carried 40 thereby are at the same level as those carried by the longitudinally. movable beams. This affords additional support to the material in the furnace and prevents bending thereof as the material is adequately supported at all points.

In the foregoing specification, I have described my invention as relating generally to'heating furnaces, and more particularly to heating furnaces used for metallurgical purposes. My invention is not limited to heating furnaces for metallurgical purposes but relates to heating furnaces of any character whatsoever wherein the material to be treated is conveyedthrough the furnace at such a rate of travel as to enable the material to be properly heated and treated by the time it reaches the delivery or discharge end of the furnace. It is equally applicable to glass annealing leers, as well as metallurgical furnaces, and the term heating furnace as used in the specification and claims hereof includes annealing leers and the like, as well as metallurgical furnaces.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not intend to be limited thereby, and 05 that my invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a continuous heating furnace, means for moving material through the furnace comprising a series of spaced longitudinally extending inverted U-shaped beams, means for reciprocating UY-shaped beams arranged in alternatingrelationship relative to said vertically movable beams, the sides of said U-shaped beams terminating in outwardly extendingfianges, means for moving said second series of beams in a longitudinally extending direction, antifriction supports for supporting and aligning said longitudinally movable beams, said supports having a portion extending into said U-shaped beams for preventing warping or twisting thereof.

,3. In a continuous heating furnace, means for moving material through the furnace comprising a longitudinally extending beam in the form of an a longitudinally extending beam in the form of an inverted channel, the sides thereof .terminating in outwardly extending flanges, means for sup- 40 porting said beam including means extending upwardly into the beam to prevent warping or twisting thereof, and means for moving saidbeam in ,a longitudinally extending direction, the beam supporting means being adapted to cooperate with the flanges of said channel.

5. In a continuous heating furnace, means for movingmaterial through the furnace comprising a series of spaced longitudinally extending U- shaped beams, the sides thereof terminating in outwardly extending flanges, means for reciprocating said beams in' a longitudinally extending direction, a plurality of horizontally extending material engaging and supporting fingers carried by at least one of said beams, said fingers being spaced longitudinaily'of the furnace, vertically movable means arranged between said spaced beams for supporting the material during the I returrr strokeof said beams, and a plurality of horizontally extending material engaging and 00 supporting fingers carried by said means, said fingers being spaced longitudinally of the'furnace and being arranged in alternating relationship relative to the material supporting fingers carried by said beams.

6. :In a continuous heating furnace, meansfor moving material through the furnace comprising a longitudinally extending beam in the form of an inverted channel, the sides thereof terminating inv outwardly extending flanges-supporting means for said beam including a bearing plate, a wheel having -an axle thereon cooperating with said bearing plate, said wheel extending upwardly into said channel for'supportingthe same and adapted to prevent warping or twisting thereof,

ing with said beam flanges to prevent warping or twisting thereof, and means for moving said beam in a longitudinally extending direction.

7. In a continuous heating furnace, means for moving material through the furnace comprising a longitudinally extending U-shaped beam formed of sheet metal and adapted to, support the material, the sides of the beam terminating in outwardly extending flanges, means including a wheel and axle for supporting said beam, said 6 wheel extending into the U-shaped beam "to prevent buckling or warping thereof, means for imparting a reciprocatory motion to said beam, and

means for supporting the material during the re turn stroke of said reciprocating beam. 15

8. In a continuous heating furnace, means for moving material through the furnace comprising'a plurality of longitudinally extending beams, means for supporting said beams for reciprocatory motion, a pier intermediate'said supports 20 having recesses therein to receive said beams andadapted to prevent warping or twisting thereof, means for imparting a reciprocatory motion to said beams, and means for supporting the material during the return stroke of said reciprocatg5 ing beam said supporting means being movable vertically from a. position'where it is supported by said pier to a position where it supports the movable material- 9. In a continuous heating furnace, a series of so spaced longitudinally extending beams, means for supporting said beams and for'moving them in a I vertically extending direction, a second series of longitudinally extending beams arranged in altematlng relationship relative to said vertically a;

movable beams, means for supporting and for moving said second series of beams inaiongitih dinally extending direction, and a pier intermediate the aforesaid supports having recesses therein adapted to receive said longitudinally movable beams and prevent warping or twisting thereof and to support the first series of beams and prevent warping or twisting thereof.

10. In a continuous heating furnace, a series of spaced longitudinally extending beams, means for supporting said beams and for moving them in a vertically extending direction, a second series of longitudinally-extending beams arranged in movable beams and prevent warping or twistin 55 thereof,vsaid recesses being provided with bearing plates on which the longitudinally movable beams may slide and which-prevent warping or twisting thereof. 11. In a'continuous heating furnace, means for so moving material through the furnace comprising -aseries of spaced longitudinally extending U- shaped beams, the sides thereof terminating in outwardly extending flanges, means for reciprocating said beams forwardly and rearwardly so through said furnace, a pluralityof horizontally extending material engaging and supporting fingers carried by at least one of said beams, said material engaging and supporting fingers having vertically extending braces attached thereto and 10 adapted to brace the beam against twistingor warping, and means arranged between said spaced beams for supporting the material during the rearward stroke of said beams.

12. In a continuous high temperature furnace is for heat treating metallic material, means for moving the material through the furnace including a plurality of longitudinally extending inverted channel beams, each of said beams com- 5 prising a bearing surface and flanges extending 10 and for preventing warping of said flanges, and

means for reciprocating said beam on said antifriction members.

13. In a continuous high temperature furnace for heat treating metallic material, means for '15 moving the material through the furnace including a plurality of longitudinally extending inverted channel beams, each of said beairs comprising a bearing surface and flanges extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of wheels extending 20 into the channels of each beam between the flanges thereof and engaging said bearing for supporting said beam and for preventing said flanges from bending inwardly, means extending alongside of said beam for preventing said flanges from bending outwardly, and means for reciprocating said beams on said wheels.

14. In a continuous heating furnace, means for moving material through the furnace, comprising a longitudinally extending beam in the form of an inverted channel of comparatively thin cross-section, the sides thereof terminating in outwardly extending flanges, supporting means for said beam including a bearing plate, a wheel having an axle thereon cooperating with said bearing plate, said wheel extending upwardly into said channel for supporting the same and. adapted to prevent warping thereof, means carried by said bearing plate for cooperating with said beam flanges to prevent warping of the beam, means for moving said beam in a longitudinally extending direction, and a plurality of horizontally disposed material engaging fingers on said beam.

PAUL s, MENOUGH. 

